Do You Have a Storm Safety Plan? | SERVPRO® of Rockwall/Rowlett

6/2/2022 (Permalink)

If you discover storm damage to your home or business, reach out to SERVPRO of Rockwall/Rowlett right away.

The spring and summer seasons bring warm and sunny skies, but they also bring thunderstorms and severe weather! Seasonal thunderstorms can quickly turn severe when the unstable air produces heavy rain, damaging winds and tornadoes.

Plus, considering that there are around 100,000 thunderstorms throughout the United States every year, these severe weather events happen often in northern Texas, especially when we have one of the highest rates of confirmed tornadoes in the country.

We are off to a quick start this season so far in north Texas in terms of severe weather. We have had 17 reported tornadoes so far this year when our average for a typical storm season is 23. With the way that this storm season has begun here in Allen, being prepared will only help keep your family safe.

While we know that we cannot dictate the weather, we can do our best to be prepared for it when it occurs. By doing small things like building an emergency kit, developing a communications strategy and having a plan for how to deal with post-storm damages, you can be prepared to conquer severe weather and reduce the impact it can have on your home.

<h3severe-weather-communication-strategy">Your Severe Weather Communication Strategy

The first thing you need to do when bad weather is in the forecast is to come up with a communication plan with your household members. You also need to be able to receive communications and instructions from your local news and authorities.

It is important to know the difference between watches and warnings so you can understand when to stay vigilant and when to move inside and locate your safe area.

You must also have a reliable way to ** receive alerts** from officials, such as your cell phone or an NOAA weather radio.

Finally, having a storm strategy for your household is incredibly important in order to keep your family safe. Have a safe area in your home that everyone is aware of and is instructed to get to in the event of bad weather, and have a way to communicate with family members that are not home when the storm rolls through. That way everyone knows when and how to check in and mark themselves as safe, regardless of where they are.

<h3your-severe-weather-emergency-kit">Packing Your Severe Weather Emergency Kit

Your emergency kit should be packed with the basics that your family members need to comfortably live for at least 72 hours of sheltering in your safe area. That should include non-perishable food, water, flashlights and extra batteries, and a full first-aid kit. This kit should always be stocked and ready to use in your designated safe area location.

<h3after-the-storm-checklist">Your “After the Storm” Checklist

After the storm has passed, you should always do a recap of your safety plan and then check your property for storm damage. Once it is safe to do so, check your property for damage.

Make sure that your roof, doors and windows are your priority after any storm, as these areas are the ones that are susceptible to water damage most easily.

If you do find damage in your home, know that SERVPRO of Rockwall/Rowlett will be there to fix your problem. We provide quick responses from our trained technicians, and we have a passion for what we do.

When the storm is over and your household members have all been marked as safe, you should do one final audit of your safety plan. Gather feedback about what worked and what needed improvement, and make any necessary adjustments so that you are ready and more prepared for the next storm.

If you discover storm damage to your home or business, you can count on SERVPRO to handle the restoration. We’re here ²⁴⁄₇ to spring into action—get in touch with us today.